had carried throughout much of her life.
For Lily, discovering that her biological mother had cared about her changed the meaning of her childhood. The truth did not erase the years she had spent with her adoptive parents, but it gave her another perspective on why she had been separated from the woman who gave her life.
Eventually, Lily decided to meet her biological mother. Her family worried that the encounter might be emotionally overwhelming or make Lily feel as though she had to choose between the people who raised her and the woman who gave birth to her.
Instead, the meeting created an unexpected sense of connection. Lily was able to see and understand the person behind the story she had carried for years. Her adoptive parents watched as she discovered another part of herself without losing the bond they had built together.
The experience taught the family that
